´Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:` "The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that the gates be closed, except the gate of 'Ali."
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
In the virtues of Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, this hadith has been mentioned that "The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam ordered that all the doors opening into the Prophet's Mosque be closed except the door of Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu." The apparent contradiction between these two hadiths has been resolved in this way:
In the beginning, there was an order to close all the doors opening into the mosque except that of Ali, so people closed their doors and opened skylights (roshandan). Then, during the illness of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he ordered that all the skylights of the people be closed except the skylight of Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu.
(These skylights were both above and below; people would also use the lower ones for coming and going. After the doors towards the mosque were closed, people began to use these for entering and exiting the mosque.)
(as mentioned in the books of difficult hadith [kama fi kutub mushkil al-hadith])
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 3732